Of Lost Teeth and Changes

This morning, as I was feeding Aaron breakfast, I noticed that he had lost a tooth- his first tooth.

I had recently wondered when that milestone would occur as Aaron is 6 years old.

When I saw the space in his mouth this morning, my mind filled with questions:

Had his tooth been loose for a while? Did he entertain himself by wiggling it with his tongue- like all other kids do? Was he
afraid? Was he in any discomfort or pain?

My questions will have to go unanswered.

There is no dollar under his pillow- Aaron doesn't care about dollars.

I don't even know where the tooth is.

Those things are not important to him.

Aaron would take a hug and a bed time story over a dollar any day. Developmentally, we threw the books out long ago.

His first steps were ever more precious at 2 1/2 and now in the past two years since his walking has regressed, each and every step is cheered and
celebrated.

No riding bikes, climbing trees or learning how to read, add and subtract.
Tasks like following a one step direction, learning a sign to communicate his basic needs, or placing a ball in a basket become our challenges.

I forget Aaron's age at times, I have been focusing on his abilities and needs.

I see his lost tooth as a reminder that he is growing up, just like all other children.

This lost tooth is the first of many such changes to come.

At times, thinking of these changes scares me, but then I look at Aaron, so happy, so full of simple joy and pure faith and I realize that he is
continually evoking changes in me.

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